ACG Set to Hold FAST FORWARD 2025 International Tax and Investment Conference

The Philippines is set to be the host of the International Tax and Investment Conference dubbed "FAST FORWARD 2025" aimed to promote ESG investing in the country. For those who don't know, that stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, a way to evaluate sustainability and ethical impact of a company.

The conference will be very instrumental in this discussion and encouraging more foreign investments in the country. March 26 will start panel discussions, exhibits on local products and the ACG Global Awards to recognize champions and advocates of sustainability. Lead Convenor for this event is Mon Abrea, the CEO of Asian Consulting Group who's tax reform advocacy has moved mountains in the region. To date, ACG has over 191 Billion pesos of savings from BIR cases of their clients. Dr. Bing Limjoco Head of the Philippine Franchise Association and Franchise Asia will be Vice Chairman of this event.

The event will also mark the launch of Mon Abrea's newest book "Re-imagining the World Without Climate Change" which includes real world studies of FAST industries who follow ESG principles, proving it can be done. The press conference also was graced by the one and only Madame Loida Lewis, who was given honors before she left for New York. Young entrepreneur and actress Bea Binene also shared why she trusts ACG and how ESG efforts have made her even trust the firm more in managing her tax and businesses to this date.

Here's the press conference in its entirety!

If you want to join FAST FORWARD 2025 you may email them at itic@acg.ph or visit their website itic2025.helixpay.ph if you want to secure a slot to the event.

Legarda Pushes for Women's Hand at Disaster Risk Efforts

Change has been happening but more has to be done. In the midst of a huge typhoon today, it is but a good time to see how women play a huge role in disaster risk reduction. Honorable Senator Loren Legarda puts emphasis on how their roles whether lead or not, can actually spark change in the management of it.

At the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, she says "It is important that women have access to resources, training and education to make sure it becomes a reality. This includes those who are marginalized, whether women, girls or those with disabilities in the region. The countries in these areas have to have systems in place to warn people early, evacuation plans, and even recovery if needed be.. with everyone participating."

Her efforts on pushing for legislation that promote gender equality, the Clean Air Act, plus the Magna Carta for Women and the PDRRM act would help promote and protect them in times of disasters in the country. This puts policy making procedures include women as a requirement. Women's role in all these aspects remain important, to hopefully, also put their needs forward, without prejudice, in any decision that has to be made. 

It just makes total sense.

Loren Legarda Emphasize Significance of IP's in Environmental Measures

What's nature without people taking care of it? Surely, this has been something in the mind of Senator Loren Legarda last August 12 when she did a privilege speech on National Indigenous Peoples day. She deem these communities have centuries worth of experience in these vast areas they reside on and should take this as an advantage in making sure they are well taken cared of. 

Senator Legarda adds "They are after all the ones who could take good care of it, toil, first hand, especially if we are taking lengths to make efforts for the environment and nature. We need to harness their expertise since they have their families in these communities, one that could do work and benefit our country. They live and breathe in nature, this we have to make sure."

In recent reports by the world bank, she mentions how "No Data, No Story: Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines" painted a huge picture about the ancestral domains that includes over 44 percent of land in the country, where only 17 percent have been approved of.

She reiterated the need to support them and recognize how huge their contributions are for the cause. She also wants their rights to be protected. If you would want to know more about her efforts, you may follow her social channels where she discusses these lengthily especially on FB.